Petition to Let Bert and Ernie Get Married

Petition Asks Sesame Street: Let Bert and Ernie Get Married!

An online petition sponsored by Change.org asks Sesame Street to take Bert and Ernie's roommate relationship to the next level by outing the puppets with a gay wedding. The petition says letting Bert and Ernie out of the closet would show kids that it's OK to be gay. There are currently more than 1,500 signatures. The letter reads:

In this horrific age of LGBT kids taking their own lives, they need to know that they ARE BEAUTIFUL and their lives are worth living. Aside from those that are committing suicide, the bullies that facilitate these tragedies need to learn that homophobia is NOT okay. They need to know that acceptance of their fellow human beings would indeed plant a seed of peace that will reverberate throughout the world. We are not asking that Sesame Street do anything crude or disrespectful. Only that they allow Bert & Ernie to marry or even add a transgender character to the show. It can be done in a tasteful way. Let us teach tolerance of those that are different. Let Sesame Street and PBS Kids be a big part in saving many worthy lives.

California recently passed a bill requiring lessons on gay historical figures in social studies classrooms, but a gay couple on Sesame Street could likely do more to increase children's awareness across the country. The change wouldn't have to be drastic — Bert and Ernie could simply act like other muppet couples. And it wouldn't be the first tough subject the show has taken on. Sesame Street has tackled divorce and race, among other topics.

Do you think it's time Bert and Ernie push their two twin beds together?

Sesame Street should be about teaching tolerance towards everyone. The average age is what, 3-6 years old? Kids that age are not conflicted about their sexuality or need any sort of role model to look up to. They are not even aware of their sexuality. It is just not the appropriate audience. I dont know any pre-teen or teenager who is watching the show.
It is just a shame that LGBT is using this route for their cause. In my mind it is just more damaging than anything else. They really should focus their attention on reaching out to teenagers who are coming into themselves and conflicted. Or working on legislature for equal rights. Not going after little kids cartoon/ puppet shows. I remember a long time ago when someone decided that the purple telletubby was gay. People need to get life.
And seriously, stop hating. Life must be so easy for you since you live by how society expects you to. But not everybody was created the same. Live your life how you choose and accept how others live their lives (unless it harms kids and/or animals)

“I don’t care what anyone says”
Then you’re probably not a Sesame Street fan anyway.
When babies or marriage are introduced on children’s shows, no one says ‘daddy likes to do it doggy style’ or ‘mommy pictures the mailman when daddy’s pounding away at her’ – no one rejoices about any sex acts.
They recognize that sharing love is very important to a healthy human life.

It is different to be handicapped or another race etc and I am sick of people comparing gays to those who are in a wheelchair or bring up slavery. Not the same. I don't care what anyone says. As I said, children should be taught not to be bullies in GENERAL and learn manners. There is no need to rejoice in people screwing each other in the a** to stop bullying or stop suicide.

Aren't their characters supposed to be little boys?
I think it would be good to have more gay characters on shows like this. Kids learn a lot during those formative years. Normalizing it could cut down on bullying later on. The earlier they are taught tolerance the better.

Kids aren't sheltered from sex in general - if they watch any t.v. they see kissing and touching, weddings. When babies are added to a show, no one talks about the night of sex that created the baby, just the love. On Blue's Clues two characters (the salt & pepper shakers?) have a baby. I've always found Miss Piggy's pursuit of Kermit to be a poor role model for little girls - it has long been a source of comedy that she forces herself on the usually uninterested frog. Bert & Ernie have always had an unusually close relationship for characters on that show.
Homosexuality isn't a 'lifestyle' - it is a fact of life and some children begin to sense that they are 'different' at a very young age. To have Bert & Ernie profess their love for each other doesn't necessitate any sexual contact - unless the hetero couples on kid shows start doing it.
Children with handicaps aren't the majority, yet shows often reach out to them. Shows are all about sending you're okay messages to kids without saying 'and everyone should be like you' - it is worth it to try and save children years of self-doubt or shame or loathing, by telling gay kids that they're okay, It won't harm anyone, it won't turn children gay any more than Miss Piggy has turned girls into high priced whores or dominatrixes.

@ ashly83, I agree with you!! I Bert and Ernie are just friends!! They sleep in different beds, just like they are brothers or roommates. They are PUPPETS. Let them be asexual cloth beings. Let parents decide what they want to teach their children regarding gays and whatnot, not Sesame Street or other children's shows. Not all parents believe it is OK to be gay and therefore children should not be taught it is OK. All a kid needs to know is to not be mean/violent in general towards anyone for any reason. People can be respectful to others without accepting their lifestyles and without sacrificing heir beliefs. Children are sheltered from sex in general...so wtf is wrong with people trying to teach about orientation in children's shows?? Are they going to make Bert and Ernie sleep in the same bed or hint that they do it with each other if they get married? There is really no point to this at all. This is seriously insanity. Straight people are the majority, lets not forget.

You know I think it is unfair that people accuse christians of pushing their way of life on people and it is a problem, yet the LGBT can do it and we are all supposed to accept it. If you want to be gay be gay, but quit trying to push it on children and why should it be taught in schools? I don't care if someone is gay or not. So why do we have to be like and this was a famous guy from history oh and by the way he was gay...WHO CARES!!! If you want to be gay do it and quit trying to push it on everyone else! You want your freedoms well so do others. Christians can't teach their lifestyle in the school and I just think all this political stuff should be left out of it. Stick to reading, writing, and Arithmetic. The rest doesn't matter. I don't care what kind or sexual orientation you are! If the gays can teach about being gay in school then they should allow other groups to do the same thing and it is just one big political mess.

I never would have thought about it when I was a kid either – but now that I do think of it, there have been couples and babies on Sesame Street and in Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood. So why not have Bert and Ernie tie the knot? Kids already are being exposed to matters of the heterosexual heart at a young age – Valentine’s Day, stories about small crushes - but not all children are heterosexual and this would be a gentle way of acknowledging that.
They’ve already set up Bert & Ernie as roommates: heck, why are they living together without a commitment?

What annoys me about this is that as a child, I never thought about burt and ernie as anything. They were just two characters on a show that lived together and I enjoyed watching them. Kids brains dont put labels on things until adults tell them to. They're gay, they're not gay. Who cares. The only lesson SS should teach the kids is that is perfectly normal for two people of the same sex to live together. No need to get into sexual orientation. But instead Burt and Ernie are going to be martyred for the LGBT cause because this will ultimately cause a big fight and they will once again be pulled off Sesame Street. And the only ones who are going to loose out are the kids.

I am all for this 100%. I think it is time to put our foot down and stand up for the rights of gay, transgender (etc) couples and give our youth the message that not only is it okay to be gay, but that we all must accept those who are different from us.